Gymnastics In The Olympics
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The Ancient Games
Legend of the First Olympic Game
The word “Olympic” comes from the name of Mt. Olympus just south of Thessalonika in Greece (which is in Europe) where all the Greek gods were supposed to live. This group of mythological gods were ruled by their chief god, Zeus. These were the first “Olympians,” which, at that time, had nothing to do with sports .
The Olympic games that are now held every four years, with athletes from all around the world, is based upon Greek games that began 3,000 years ago. This is the story, now only a legend, of how those games began.
Long ago in ancient Greece there was a famous royal family called the House of Atreus. This royal family began with a man named Tantalus, supposedly a human son of Zeus (the “gods” often had children with human children). Tantalus did a horrible thing
when he boiled his only son, Pelops, and served him as dinner to the gods. They punished Tantalus by tying him up near food and drink, but not close enough to be eaten. His name became our word “to tantalize” which means to torment with unobtainable
temptation.
His son Pelops was restored to life by the gods, and this is where the Olympic story begins. Pelops fell in love with the beautiful Princess Hippodamia who was of the marrying age. Her father, the King, offered her hand in marriage plus the co-rule of his kingdom to any man that could beat him in a chariot race. The king had the fastest horses in all of Greece. Unfortunately, he decreed that all losers would also die in their failure. So many died trying to win the hand of fair Princess Hippodamia when Pelops decided to try.
When the Princess saw Pelops, she immediately fell in love with him. She could not bear to see this handsome youth perish! Unbeknownst to either Pelops or the King, Hippodamia bribed Myrtilus, her father’s charioteer to remove the bolts from the King’s chariot wheels. So when Pelops raced his chariot against the King’s, he won because the wheels flew off the King’s chariot. This race became the forerunner to the ancient first Olympic games.
Pelop’s ruled many years as a wise king, and the Greek Isle of Pelopanese was named after him. In memory of this great chariot race, the King Pelop, in 776 BC, held the first official Olympic games, which were a festival dedicated to their god, Zeus.
In this game there was only a foot race of 200 yards. The games continued for about 1,100 years with boxing, wrestling, throwing, jumping, and weightlifting added. The Olympic games were finally abolished by the Roman Emperor Theodosius in 392 AD, almost 1200 years later!
Ancient Olympics
by HickOKSports
Although the ancient Olympic games were first recorded in 776 BC, they originated at least a century before that and possibly as early as the 13th century BC.
One Greek legend said that the great Herakles (Hercules, in the Roman form) won a race at Olympia, a plain in the small state of Elis, and then decreed that the race should be re-enacted every four years. Another said that Zeus himself had originated the festival after defeating Cronus for the sovereignty of heaven.
The more likely story is that the Olympic festival was a local religious event until 884 BC, when Iphitus, the king of Elis, decided to turn it into a broader, pan-Hellenic festival. To accomplish that, he entered into a temporary truce with other rulers allowing athletes and others to travel peacefully to Olympia while the festival was going on.
The Greeks based their chronology on four-year periods called Olympiads, and the Olympic festival marked the beginning of each Olympiad. Evidently, the festival was reorganized in 776 BC, which was considered the start of the first Olympiad.
The festival was basically a religious gathering to celebrate the gods worshipped in common by all Hellenes, primarily Zeus. There were three other major pan-Hellenic festivals, the Pythian, the Nemean, and the Isthmian, all of which included fairs, but the festival at Olympia became pre-eminent by 572 BC, when Elis and Sparta entered into an alliance under which Elis was in charge of the event itself while Sparta enforced the sacred truce.
A single foot race was the only athletic event until the fifteenth Olympiad. The race was the length of the stadium, approximately 200 yards. As time went on, the games associated with the festival expanded and became increasingly important. A race of the stadium lengths was added in 724 and a long-distance race of 24 stadium lengths (about 2.5 miles) was added in 720.
Other types of sports followed quickly: Wrestling and the pentathlon in 708, boxing in 688, chariot racing in 680, and the pancratium, a combination of boxing and wrestling, in 748. At one time or another, there were 23 Olympic sports events, although they were never all held at the same festival.
A branch of wild olive was the only official prize for an Olympic winner, but there were also usually some unofficial prizes awarded by his city-state. For example, Athens allowed an Olympic champion to live free of charge in the Pyrtaneum, a special hall set aside for distinguished citizens. Other city-states exempted winners from taxes for an Olympiad, and in some cases citizens contributed to a cash award.
Athletes had to arrive in Elis a month before the games to undergo spiritual, moral, and physical training under the supervision of the judges, who then decided which of them were genuinely qualified to compete. Each competitor had to swear an oath that he was a free-born Greek who had committed no sacrilege against the gods.
At first, the games took up only one day of the festival. That was extended to two days in 680, with the addition of chariot racing, and to five days in 632. However, only three of those days were actually devoted to competition. The first day was devoted to religious sacrifices, the registration of athletes, and the taking of the Olympic oath. Prizes were awarded and thanksgiving sacrifices were offered on the fifth day.
Athletes usually competed nude. They originally wore shorts but, according to one ancient writer, Pausanias, a competitor deliberately lost his shorts so that he could run more freely during the race in 720 BC, and clothing was then abolished.
Women were not allowed to watch the games, but that had nothing to do with the nudity of the male athletes. Rather, it was because Olympia was dedicated to Zeus and was therefore a sacred area for men. The chariot races, which were held outside the sacred precinct, were open to women spectators. (Women had their own sacred festivals from which men were banned, most notably the Heraean festival at Argos, which included a javelin throwing competition.)
At its peak during the 4th century BC, the Olympic festival drew crowds not only from the Pelopponesian Peninsula but from colonies as far away as Libya and Egypt. Poets and other writers recited spontaneously, sculptors worked on statues while surrounded by spectators, vendors sold food from stalls, traders from throughout the peninsula sold horses.
Traveling to Olympia took on the nature of a pilgrimage, which attracted some of the greatest names of Greece’s classic period. Plato attended the festival when he was seventy. Demosthenes, Diogenes the Cynic, Pythagoras, and Themistocles all visited Olympia at one time or another. The young Thucydides was in the audience when Herodotus, the “father of history,” read from his works.
Even after the glory that was Greece vanished, the Olympics lived on, but in a debased form under the Romans, who replaced the traditional games with their own gladiatorial contests, in which slaves replaced free-born Greeks as the competitors.
In 394 AD, Theodosius the Great decreed an end to the Olympic Games. But they had lasted more than a thousand years, perhaps as long as 1600 years, and certainly longer than any other secular institution in history. And they left behind an ember that was to burst again into flame in the late 19th century.
The Modern Games
Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937)
by Ed Gate
The Olympic Games owe their modern revival almost entirely to the French aristocrat Baron Pierre de Coubertin. His single-minded, persistent efforts, which overcame many obstacles, led to the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896.
Coubertin was inspired by archaeological explorations of ancient Greece. He pressed for the revival of the ancient Olympic Games and won support for launching a modern Olympic Festival. Coubertin believed in the importance of physical education and saw the advantages of restoring the Olympic Games as an international event promoting world peace.
“Peace could be the product only of a better world; a better world could be brought about only by better individuals; and better individuals could be developed only by the give and take, the buffering and battering, the stress and strain of free competition.”
Coubertin wanted to use sports to improve the health and values of youth and to celebrate the competition of talented individual athletes. In addition, he expected the Olympic Games to provide an opportunity for individuals from different countries and cultures to become friends with each other. We can find examples of this international search for peace and goodwill in various activities such as releasing the doves of peace at each of the Opening Ceremonies and the lighting of the Olympic flame to star the Olympic Games.
Perhaps the most famous quote associated with the Olympic Games is commonly referred to as “An Athlete’s Creed” or “The Olympic Creed.” These words were once spoken by Baron de Coubertin and aptly describe the theme behind each and every Olympic competition.
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”
American Gymnastics in the Olympics
by Lee Bjella
1894
In tracing the development of gymnastics in the world and the United States, a look at the events of the Modern Olympic Games provides some interesting insights. The 1896 renewal of the Olympic Games held in Athens had men’s gymnastic events, which included:
- parallel bars,
- high bar,
- vault,
- flying rings,
- team high bar,
- pommel horse,
- and rope climb,
however, a gymnastics team was not sent from America.
- Indian clubs
- and tumbling
would also be events for a while. Artistic gymnastics, which we recognize today, would come later through the refining process.
1900
The 1900 Olympics in Paris were spread out over five months. This was the first year women were allowed to participate. (9)
1904
The first listing of American men in Olympic Gymnastics was at the 1904 games held in St. Louis. There were a total of 13 nations represented, 689 athletes, 8 of whom were women, and there were 91 events. (9). Americans George Eyser, Glass, Heida and Henning win first US Gold Medals at disputed 1904 Olympiad in St. Louis. (6) Historians agree that the St Louis Games of 1904 almost killed off the Olympics. They were little more than a farcical sidelight of the giant international St. Louis Expo held the same year. Naturally enough, the Americans won most of the events, including all but one of the 23 track and field contests. The Games ended with a disgraceful couple of days of what was described as anthropological competition, pitting African pygmies, Sioux Indians and other colored races against each other.”(7). But there were some highlights to the mess. This was the first year that the gold, silver and bronze medals were given. And America’s gymnast George Eyser won 6 medals even though his left leg was made of wood. The event of
was included in this Olympics. (9)
1908, 1912 and 1916
No U.S.A. gymnastics team was sent to London for the 1908 Olympics, or the 1912 Games in Stockholm, Sweden. The 1916 Games were canceled because of WW1.
1920
It wasn’t until the 1920 Games in Antwerp, Belgium, that America sent a team of gymnasts once again. This was considered by many to be the first real U.S.A. team. The team consisted of Bjorne Jorgensen, Frank Kriz, Paul Krempel, and John Mais. They were coached by Roy E. Moore (1875-1957) who is known as the “Father of American Gymnastics”. He was a five-time NAAU pommel horse champion. The “Moore” element on pommel horse is named for him.
1924
The 1924 Team that traveled to Paris, again coached by Roy Moore, included the only American gymnast to be a four time Olympian- Alfred Jochim. Amazingly, Alfred was also the A.A.U. National all around champion 7 times. (1925-1930 and again in 1933.) Frank Kriz won Gold in Vault, and was a three time Olympian. This looks to be our first Olympic medal in Olympic gymnastics. Mr. Moore coached the 1928 team, and was the Manager at the 1932 Games and Chairman at the 1936, 1952, and 1956 Games.
1928
The first year woman’s gymnastics competition was held was at the 1928 Amsterdam, Holland Olympics, but no American team was sent, and this was the first year the Olympic flame was lit. Frank Haubold competes in his first of three Olympics.
1932
The 1932 Olympics were held in Los Angeles. This year marked the start of the relatively short 15-18 day Olympic Games. The medal podium with flag raising, and the photo finish were started this year. Because of the economic conditions around the world, only five gymnastics teams made it to the U.S. for the Games.
George Gulack’s competition uniform on display at the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in Oklahoma
The U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Team took the Silver Medal, with George Gulack getting gold on the still rings,
- and Dallas Bixler gold on the Horizontal Bar.
- Also, Frank Haubold was 3rd on Pommel Horse;
- William Denton, 2nd still rings;
- Alfred Jochim, 2nd vault;
- Ed Carmichael 3rd on vault;
- and Edwin Gross, 2nd Tumbling.)
Clubs in a group event
The USA team won
- tumbling,
- rope climb,
- and the Indian Club events,
which of course are not Olympic events any longer.
Frank Cumiskey competed in his first Olympics in 1932 – he would be a three time Olympian. He also competed in the ’36 and ’48 Games, and set the record for the longest span of Olympic competition for the U.S. – spanning 16 years! (8) Frank was the A.A.U. National all around champ five times -’34,’36,’45,’46,’an ’47. He later became an Olympic judge, and was the 1952 Men’s Team Manager.
1936
The first American women gymnasts competed in the Olympic Games of 1936, which were held in Berlin, Germany. Our team consisted of Jennie Caputo, Marie Kibler Phillips, Consetta Caruccio, Ada Lunardoni Cumiskey, Margaret Duff, Adelaide Meyer, Irma Haubold, and Mary Wright. The coach was George Miele with Dr. Margaret Brown as the Manager. There were no medals that year for either the men or women of the U.S. The dominant powers were Germany, Switzerland and Finland.
The men’s team had the husbands of Adelaide Meyer, Ada Lunardoni Cumiskey, and Irma Haubold, and after the Games, Chester Phillips and Marie Kibler, from the men’s and women’s teams were married. Ada and Frank Cumiskey had three children, later divorced and married others. Ada died in 2003 at 91 years of age.
Another interesting note on the personalities of the 1936 Olympics concerns George Wheeler. He only competed in one Olympics, but he later won 25 National Championships from 1937 to 1941. He was the all around champion five years in a row; 1937-‘41.
The 1936 Olympics saw the start of the torch relay and television broadcasting, and was the last year the Games were held outdoors.
1940 & 1944
No Olympics were held during WWII, but during the 1940′s the Soviet Union began competition for Rhythmic Gymnastics.
1948
Only three years after the end of WWII, London did a remarkable job hosting the 1948 Olympics. The U.S. Women’s Team took 3rd place! It would be the last team medal for the U.S. women until 1984. The women did not receive individual medals, but Helen Schifano was second on vault. Clara Schroth Lomady, also a member of the team, was the winner of 39 national championships in her career. (8)
1952
The 1952 Games were held in Helsinki, Finland. Bob Stout competed the first full twisting back salto. Jack Beckner competed in his first of three Olympics. Heikki Salvolainen, from Finland, holds the record for being the oldest Olympic gymnastics medallist -he was 44 years old!
1956
Melbourne, Australia was the host of the 1956 Olympics. Two gymnasts dominated the Games. Hungary’s Agnes Keleti brought her career total to ten medals by winning four gold medals and two silver. Ukrainian Viktor Chukarin earned five medals, including three gold, to bring his career total to eleven medals, seven of them gold. (9)
Olympian and Olympic Team Coach, Abbie Grossfeld
The 1956 American Olympic Team roster holds some familiar names in women’s gymnastics:
- Muriel Davis Grossfeld, (Abie Grossfeld was on the men’s team)
- Jacquelyn Klein Fie,
- and Doris Fuchs Brause.
- ropes
- clubs
- balls
- hoops and
- ribbons
Doris, at one time, trained under our own George Lewis in Seattle, and was also on the 1960 team, was also an alternate on the 1964 team. Muriel also was on the 1960 and 1964 teams and coached the 1968 and 1972 teams.
1960
The 1960 Olympics were held in Rome. Event Finals were introduced this year. Sharon Richardson performed the first full-twisting back layout on floor ex. Jack Beckner competed in his third Olympics. This was the first year that America held Olympic Trials to qualify gymnasts to the Olympics. Vera Caslavska, Czechoslovakia, won the all around.
The FIG recognized Rhythmic Gymnastics in 1961, first as modern gymnastics, then as rhythmic sportive gymnastics, and finally as rhythmic gymnastics. The first World Championships for individual rhythmic gymnasts took place in 1963 in Budapest, Hungary.
1964
Linda Metheny, Olympian, Gym Owner and Olympic Judge
Tokyo, Japan was the site of the 1964 Games. Dale McClements Flansaas Kephart, from Washington, was on the women’s team and did the best of any of the women on the U.S. team getting 34th all around. Dale went on to be the Manager for the 1972 team, and coached the team in 1976. Linda Metheny Mulvihill of Oregon was on the 1964, 1968 and 1972 teams. Linda later became an Olympic Judge. Vera Caslavska, Czechoslovakia, won the all around for the second year in a row.
Rusty Mitchell competed the first double back at the Olympics. Makato Sakamoto did fairly well for the U.S. men, getting 20th in the all around. He was a five time National all around winner for A.A.U. (1963,64,65,66, and 68) and also made the 1972 Olympic team.
Groups in Rhythmic Gymnastics were introduced in 1967 in Copenhagen, Denmark World Cup.
1968
Cathy Rigby, Olympian and stage actress
Joyce Tanac Schroeder of Washington was on the 1968 Team. (Mexico City, Mexico.) Caroline Pingatore from Washington was an alternate. Caroline was inducted into the USAG Washington Hall of Fame in 2002, and Joyce Schroeder and Dale Kephart were inducted in 2003. Linda Metheny Mulvihill placed 4th on beam. Vera Caslavska was the darling of the Olympics winning four gold and two silver medals. Cathy Rigby McCoy was America’s “pixie” who later became an actress and played Peter Pan on stage for years.
Olympian and Olympic Team Coach, Fred Roethlisberger
Fred Roethlisberger was on the men’s team in ’68. His son John, under his coaching, would later be a three time Olympian and daughter Marie was an alternate on the 1984 team. Since 1972, Fred has been head coach of the University of Minnesota men’s team. He was inducted into the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1990. Steve Hug, 16 years old, became the youngest U.S. male Olympian, and was also in the 1972 Olympics.
1972
Russian gymnast, Olga Korbut
Eric Hughes (founder of U.W. men’s gymnastics program in 1950) was the Men’s Team Manager for the 1972, Munich, Germany Olympics. Eric was inducted into the first class of U.S.A.G. Washington Hall of Fame in 2002. This was the year that the nine Israeli athletes were murdered.
Olympian, Nancy Thies Marshall
The U.S. women were 4th in 1972 with Cathy Rigby McCoy getting 10th all round. Olga Korbut revolutionized women’s gymnastics at this Olympics. In 2001, living in the U.S. Olga was arrested for shoplifting. Nancy Thies Marshall (U.S.A.) did a back salto on beam, the first person to do so, although Olga usually gets credit for doing it first.
1976
Nadia Comaneci with husband Bart Connor
Montreal, Canada was the site for 1976 Olympics. Nadia Comaneci gets the first 10.0 in women’s Olympic Gymnastics.
Olympian, showman, and gym owner, Kurt Thomas
Peter Kormann of the 1976 Men’s U.S. team got the bronze medal on floor exercise. (The first U.S. gymnastics men’s medal in 44 years!) Kurt Thomas performed his flairs on the pommel horse and Bart Conner competed in his first Olympics. He was a three time Olympian, became a television sports commentator, and married Nadia Comaneci twenty years later. Dubi Lufi, Washington State University standout gymnast, competed for his home country, Israel.
1980
The U.S.A. boycotted the 1980 Games in Moscow. Elena Davydova performed the first Tkatchev. Aleksandr Dityatin earned medals in every men’s gymnastics event to be the only man win to eight medals in one Olympics. (9)
1984
Mitch Gaylord, Tim Daggett and Peter Vidmar of the 1984 Olympic Team
Karen Wisen of Washington state judged the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984, which were boycotted by the Soviet Union. The men won first place as a team in 1984, and Bart Conner won gold on Parallel Bars. Tim Daggett won bronze on pommel horse and Mitch Gaylord won bronze on rings, silver on vault, and bronze on parallel bars. Mitch received a perfect 10.0 -the first received by a U.S. male gymnast. Peter Vidmar won gold on pommel horse also with a 10.0, and the silver in the all around.
Mary Lou Rettin won the hearts of Americans, and now speaks as a motivational speaker
The U.S. Women won second place as a team in 1984, with Mary Lou Retton Kelly taking first all around, 3rd on bars, 3rd on floor and 2nd on vault. Mary Lou was the only woman from outside Eastern Europe to get the AA gold since 1952. (10) Kathy Johnson was 3rd on beam. Julianne McNamara won gold on bars and was 4th all around. Yumi Mordre was an alternate that year along with Marie Roethlisberger.
Rhythmic Gymnastic for individual events made its debut in the 1984 Olympiad. The events of:
were introduced.
1988
Bela and Marta Karolyi begin their long coaching career as Women’s Team National Coaches
1988 had the women coming in 4th, in Seoul, Korea. The women’s team had enough points to win 3rd but alternate Rhonda Faehn unknowingly remained on the podium at bars after removing a board for a teammates mount. .5 was deducted and the U.S. ended up with 4th place. Phoebe Mills was 3rd on beam. Bela and Marta Karolyi were 2 of the 6 women’s coaches this year.
The men placed 11th.
1992
Olympian, Shannon Miller
The 1992 Olympics were held in Barcelona, Spain. The Soviet Union was broken up, but they competed together under the name “the Unified team.” The U.S. women took the bronze team medal. Bela Karolyi was the coach. Shannon Miller was 2nd all around, and won a total of 5 medals. Dominique Dawes competed in the first of her three Olympics. Trent Dimas won gold on the high bar. Vitaly Scherbo, “Unified team”, won 6 gold medals. John Roethlisberger competed in his first of three Olympics.
John Roethlisberger, Jr., son of Fred Roethlisberger, three time Olympian.
1996
Olympian Amy Chow
The USA women’s team, the Magnificent Seven, won first place at the Atlanta, Georgia Olympic Games of 1996. Shannon Miller became the most decorated U.S. female gymnast with 7 medals to her credit, with the 1996 team gold, and also her gold on beam. Amy Chow was 2nd on bars and Dominique Dawes got bronze on floor.
Olympian Jair Lynch
The Group competition in Rhthmic Gymnastics was added to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
2000
2000 Olympian Jamie Dantzscher
In Sydney, Australia in 2000, the women took 4th, and the men 5th. The women’s team consisted of: Amy Chow, Jamie Dantzscher, Dominique Dawes, Kristen Maloney, Elise Ray and Tasha Schwikert .
The men’s team consisted of: Paul Hamm, Morgan Hamm, Stephen McCain, John Roethlisberger, Sean Townsend, and Blaine Wilson
The U.S. sent Jennifer Parilla to the Olympics for Women’s Trampoline.
In the 1900 Olympic Games there were a total of 19 women participants; by 2000 there were 4,069 women and 6,582 men. (9)
2004
Centennial competition returns to Athens, Greece. The US Women’s team consisted of: Courtney Kupets, Courtney McCool, Carly Patterson, Mohini Bhardwaj, Annia Hatch, and Terin Humphrey with the alternates of Allyse Ishino, Tasha Schwikert and Chellsie Memmel. Hill’s Gymnastics, Kelli Hill, was named Olympic women’s team head coach while Yevgeny Marchenko of WOGA was named as assistant coach. Carly became the first American woman to ever win the Olympic All-Around title in a fully attended Olympic Games.
The US Men’s Gymnastics team consisted of: Jason Gatson, Morgan Hamm, Paul Hamm, Brett McClure, Blaine Wilson, and Guard Young with the alternates of Steve McCain and Raj Bhavsar. They won the silver medal as a team.
2008
For the first time communist China opened its doors to the Beijing games of 2008. A controversy with the age of the Chinese women gymnasts arose. Paul & Morgan Hamm had to withdraw due to injuries. The women’s team consisted of: Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, Alicia Sacramone, Chellsie Memmel, Samantha Peszek and Bridget Sloan,. with the alternates being Jana Bieger, Ivana Hong and Corrie Lothrop .
The men’s gymnastics team consisted of: Paul Hamm, Jonathan Horton, Kevin Tan, Morgan Hamm, Joe Hagerty and Justin Spring. Chosen as alternates: Raj Bhavsar, Alexander Artemev and David Durante. They won the bronze medal for their team.
Bibliography
6. Frederick, A. Bruce, Ph.D. Roots of American Gymnastics. 1996. Roots Project, 1042 11th Ave., Wilmington, DE., 19808
Return to 1904
7. http://abc.net.au/olympics_1996/game1904.htm 1904 St. Louis Olympic Games by Malcolm Andrews.
Return to 1904
8. USAG online: 2000 Olympic Games: History of US Gymnasts.
Return to 1932 Frank Cumisky
Return to 1948 Clara Schroth Lomady
9. http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/index_uk.asp
Return to 1900
Return to 1904 91 Events
Return to 1904 dumbells
Return to 1956 Viktor Chukarin
Return to 1980 Aleksandr Dityatin
Return to 2000
10. USAG online: 2000 Olympic Games: History of US Gymnasts.
Return to 1984 Mary Lou